Orioles Pursue Lucas Giolito to Bolster Starting Rotation

The Baltimore Orioles are back in the pitching market. This time, they’re hunting for a real difference-maker for a rotation that feels sturdy but not especially dangerous.

Recent reports have Baltimore linked to several big-name starters, including Lucas Giolito. The front office is weighing cost, upside, and long-term flexibility as they head into what feels like a make-or-break window.

Orioles Still Searching for Rotation Upside

The Orioles have already made some moves this offseason. Still, no one thinks they’re finished yet.

Baltimore’s been open about wanting more starting pitching. The names floating around show they’re aiming high.

Big arms like Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, and Zac Gallen have all popped up in rumors. The most intriguing—and maybe the most realistic—target right now is Lucas Giolito, who seems to have caught the Orioles’ eye in a serious way.

Current Rotation Picture in Baltimore

The Orioles have tried to stabilize their rotation by bringing in Shane Baz and keeping Zach Eflin around. They also surprised a lot of people by trading Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward.

That move shows they’re willing to give up young pitching for more balance right now. As of today, the likely rotation looks like this:

• Trevor Rogers
• Kyle Bradish
• Shane Baz
• Zach Eflin

Dean Kremer is probably the fifth starter. He’s been hanging around the mid-4.00 ERA range for a few years—solid, but not exactly scaring anyone.

Depth Is There, but Ceiling Is Not

Baltimore’s got plenty of arms on paper. In reality, not many look like postseason anchors.

Internal Options Waiting in the Wings

The depth chart lists several arms with question marks:

• Tyler Wells, coming off UCL surgery
• Chayce McDermott and Cade Povich, both talented but haven’t proven much yet
• Brandon Young and veteran Albert Suárez
• Trey Gibson, a top prospect who might show up in 2026

This group gives Baltimore some backup, but not much fear factor. What’s missing is a true ace or even someone who’s recently pitched like one.

Why Lucas Giolito Makes Sense

Giolito strikes a nice balance between upside and affordability. He’s not as expensive as some of the top names, but he’s got more to offer than most of the depth guys.

A Look at Giolito’s Performance Arc

Between 2019 and 2021, Giolito looked like one of the American League’s best. He put up ace numbers and was consistently reliable.

Things dipped after that, and he missed all of 2024 with UCL surgery. But his 2025 comeback with Boston was hard to ignore.

He posted a 3.41 ERA across 26 starts. Over his last 19 outings, he looked even sharper with a 2.51 ERA.

His strikeout rate hovered around 20%. Still, he showed durability and solid command.

Giolito missed the playoffs due to flexor irritation and a bone issue. He says those problems cleared up after the season, which is reassuring—though you always wonder a little.

Financial Flexibility Favors a Giolito Deal

From a payroll angle, Giolito fits cleanly. Framber Valdez is projected to land something like $150 million over five years, but Giolito’s in a different ballpark at about $32 million over two years.

How the Numbers Line Up

The Orioles are working with a projected payroll around $148 million. That leaves about $15–20 million in available space.

If Ryan Mountcastle gets moved, that number could jump by another $7 million.

This extra room makes Giolito a pretty interesting option. He’s a veteran starter with upside and doesn’t tie up future payroll.

Baltimore doesn’t need more bodies—they need impact. Giolito might not be the ace he used to be, but honestly, he could be exactly what the Orioles need right now.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Orioles Interested In Lucas Giolito